AIR POLLUTION KILLS MORE THAN AIDS, TB, AND MALARIA COMBINED
Below, you’ll discover the top 10 polluting countries, with China leading in emissions primarily driven by its extensive use of coal. Countries like the USA and EU are also significant contributors to pollution, attributed to their industrial revolution periods and heavy reliance on fossil fuels.
China, with more than 14 million tons of CO2 released.
United States, with 6 million tons of CO2
India, with 3.5 million tons of CO2
European Union 3.4 million tons of CO2
Russia, with 2 million tons of CO2
Japan, 1,170 million tons of CO2
Brazil, 1.140 million tons of CO2
Iran, 1.130 million tons of CO2
Indonesia, 1.106 million tons of CO2
Mexico, 792 million tons of CO2
NB: None is African.
Not all countries face the same level of responsibility regarding the climate crisis. The biggest polluters need to take action to reduce their carbon emissions, but also to offset their carbon footprint by supporting environmental projects around the world.
Uganda started observing Quality Awareness Week from May 6th to May 10th, 2024, under the theme “Knowing your Air to Protect Human Health and the Environment”. This initiative aims to shed light on the critical link between air quality, human health, and environmental sustainability, urging collective efforts to address the escalating issue of air pollution.
Air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and tropospheric ozone poses a significant threat to human health, with alarming statistics revealing its association with 6.7 million premature deaths annually worldwide. Despite these staggering figures, air pollution often receives minimal attention and investment compared to other global health crises.
In Uganda, compromised air quality contributes to a substantial disease burden, with approximately 31,600 deaths attributed to air pollution-related illnesses annually, particularly in urban areas. Studies conducted in Kampala City identified transportation as the primary culprit of air pollution, followed by domestic and biomass burning, industrial emissions, and dust from unpaved roads.
Outdoor air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.
Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year in 2019; this mortality is due to exposure to fine particulate matter, which causes cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and cancers.
WHO estimates that in 2019, some 37% of outdoor air pollution-related premature deaths were due to ischaemic heart disease and stroke, 18% and 23% of deaths were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute lower respiratory infections respectively, and 11% of deaths were due to cancer within the respiratory tract.
These are the two most prevalent types of air pollution. Smog (sometimes referred to as ground-level ozone) occurs when emissions from combusting fossil fuels react with sunlight. Soot—a type of particulate matter—is made up of tiny particles of chemicals, soil, smoke, dust, or allergens that are carried in the air. The sources of smog and soot are similar.
Some days, the air is clear and feels fresh and clean. Clean air is air that has no harmful levels of pollutants such as dirt and chemicals) in it. Clean air is good for people to breathe. However, on some days the air can feel heavy and may smell. Sometimes, the air can even make your chest feel tight as you breathe, or make you cough. When too much dirt or too many chemicals get into the air, the air is dirty, or polluted.
Polluted air is not good for people to breathe. Breathing polluted air increases the risk of deadly diseases such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic bronchitis. Air pollution illnesses kill more people than AIDS, TB, and malaria combined.
MAJOR SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION
• Burning domestic trash
• Cooking with biofuels such as wood, charcoal, and straws
• Exhaust fumes from vehicles
• Use of contaminated vehicle fuel
• Dust
• Smokestacks from factories
